What do you do about VIN# after major modifications?

Just dwelling on this ? I did a search but no luck.
My 65 F100 truck started out stock.With ***le and registered.Over the years the truck has gone through major modifications. C notched the rear. Chopped off the front end and grafted in a Camaro front clip. Swapped the I-6 w/3 speed for a 302/C4 trans.Recently I had to replace the driver side door and noticed that donor door has no tag like on the original.
At the time I didn't think about it, until now.The frame has been cut off and I didn't cut out the VIN# off of the O.G.frame. It's long gone now.

So do I have a dilemma or am I just worrying over nothing?

Frank

 

As a California resident you have a CA DMV DILEMMA in my opinion. And I don't have the answer unfortunately.

 

There are companies who make reproduction tags.

 

The door tag I have.Is there repops of the factory rivets?
I ***ume that the ch***is VIN# would be the most important.

 

did you keep the vin plate off the door? the plate on my buddies 56 was held on with woodscrews when he got it and had no issues with the dmv. if not junkyardjeff is right about the reproduction tags so its not that big of a deal

 

Yup. I still have it.

 

Am I glad I don't live in California...

 

HaHa!




Any one from Cali? I was imagining that it would be a good topic to discuss.

 

I think you're up a creek with a money paddle.
In most cases you are not allowed to remove and reattach vin numbers or tags.
You are going to have to hop through a lot of BS and mumbo jumbo same as you would in my state. May end up getting a bonded ***le, may be easier than that.

One thing I will advise to you. There are a lot of different and creative ways that you will be told to do this, be sure you are in the know as to exactly what you are doing and exactly what the ramifications of doing it the rebellious way. I did mine legal, pain in the ***, yes, but now a legal pain in the ***. I wouldn't want to do time on the farm over something as mundane as vin fraud.

 

A good example of why proper VIN issues should always be in your head when you start to make alterations. Every state is different, so this is really pertinent only to the California HAMBers, but I surely wish you good luck.

 

Keep the vin tag in the glove box with the registration for now but there is probably a simple way to go to the right person at the dmv and correct things. It can't be the first Ford vehicle that ever had a smashed drivers door on it and had the door changed. Taking in the whole smashed door would probably have been better but go with what ya got.

I went over on one of the Ford Trucks boards. Scroll down the page and I think you will find the info you need. It looks like the frame was stamped in more than one place.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/872536-locate-vin-number-on-1965-ford.html

 

Those rivets or what ever they are called that hold the data plate can be removed and reinstalled,from inside the door sqeeze them togather enough so they can be taken out and get a punch that will fit in them to push them back out after they are put back in.

 

If you have the original plate, THAT is the VIN on these trucks. Buy new rivets and reattach it. If plate and ***le match, you're good. I would not call the DMV or the state police. This would cause a lot of grief with all the mods. You can get a reproduction plate if you want the new look.

Now, for being the guy who says do things the 'right way', body shops moved these plates around during collision losses when doors were replaced. The door is a service part. If you replace the plate, KEEP THE OLD ONE and keep it with your ***le. Many Ford truck vendors carry the rivets.

 

don't create an issue, just attach plate to door pillar.

 

yep, oldcarfart & others right-don't tell anyone what you did and no one will know-oops

 

Weld that section in the new door ….. Stamp the numbers in the frame

 

Very good info and advise............

www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=579021&highlight=insurance

 

The first thing to do is NOT post this question! Let me explain...

About halfway through my build(in sig below), I got a letter from Autopac, which is the gov. run insurance corporation here in Manitoba. It seems that one of their employees stumbled across my thread on the HAMB, and figured out my name and adress(which wouldn't be that hard to do).
They sent me a letter, and a thick booklet that will have to be filled out prior to putting plates on my hot rod. Their reasoning is that too many changes have been made...cl*** change from a p***enger car to a truck, replacement frame, different engine, etc.
To sum it up...
Safety inspection $50
Body integrity inspection $400
complete do***entation of the build(thank you HAMB!)
bills of sale for the frame, engine and trans, complete with vin#s from the donor vehicles.
With all this info submitted, I then have to bring the truck down to the Vehicle Standards shop for one more inspection, then new vin will be issued.

I guess it will be good to know that I am legal, but it is still a PITA to jump through those hoops!

 

There ought to be a sticky on before you ask a how do I ***le my car" have you done your homework? Add to that. What do I need to do to stay legal when I make major changeovers?

Frank Dog's situation should be a fairly easy fix but it serves notice to the rest of us to save that piece of frame rail with the vin stamped in it or don't cut it off the frame in a changeover.

GTKane's deal with his rod shows another facet in that one should save do***entation for every major piece that goes on the car and it doesn't hurt to save every receipt.
Having a photo copy of the ***le for the car that donated the engine and trans plus the receipt you got from the s**** yard for the hulk when you sold it to them trumps the deer in the headlight looks because you have no proof of where they came from or how you got them.

 

The sad thing is "innocent until proven guilty" is totally ignored by the gov't in these cases. If that 'theory meant what it says, they'd have to check your engine/trans etc. serial numbers against a list of stolen parts and if wasn't on that list, it shouldn't matter where it came from, you would be good to go.....except for valuation for the tax issue. But, obviously, we are 'guilty' until proven innocent.

Ray

 

Move to Texas=Bring your 65 and no problem. Dont make waves and you wont need a life jacket.

 

Though the door tag does have the VIN stamped on it, it is not the actual VIN used to register or prove ownership of the vehicle. It is actually called the warranty tag The frame number is the only legal VIN on your truck. If you cut it off, you're sorta screwed. Shoulda saved the hunk of frame that you cut off. That being said, you will probably never be checked by the cops. Squeeze the backs of your rivets so you can tap them out, put them and the tag on your new door and hope for the best.

 

I like this guy!! It seems for being the hot rod capital of the word you cali guys have a lot of problems!! Thank god for Texas!!!!!!!!
They make the repo rivets for the "warranty tag". Ive installed several repo tags, and original tags with repo rivets. The vins on old fords are on the frame. The plates in the doors are just for dealership service back in the day for engine code, trans, rear end etc.

 

http://www.trimtags.com

You can buy replacement rivets from these guys. Hope this helps.

NF

 

Unfortunately its the same down here, you can get in very deep do do if your caught removing/replacing tags or stamping numbers, its not unknown for your car to be taken away for x-ray or other testing on the numbers . I have a car with 2 vin's ,its gunna be a ****** to get registered again...... (one Police issued cause they couldnt find the original, Ive now found the original )

 

I was faced with this same situation. I went to Cal DMV website and looked at their provisions. There is a way to reregister the car but get set for some paperwork h***les. For example, where did the engine come from and where i the Bill of Sale for the engine. Then, why didn't any tax get paid with the purchase? And it goes on and on. It is all about money and not truly about getting things done easily. You may consider going to AZ, OR or NV to register it. Rent a PO Box there for an address for now. I bought a RV last year in Montana and was help to setup a Montana LLC by an Attorney in Hamilton, MT and avoided a huge California state sales tax, new vehicle fee and also the annual licensing fees. It cost me $400.00 bucks to set up the LLC and now I'm saving twice that per year in fees and licenses. $1288.00 fr license in California; $112.60 a year in Montana plus my insurance went down 22%.
Normbc9

 

"Taking in the whole smashed door would probably have been better but go with what ya got." I would pay money to see someone standing in line with a battered door. Imagine getting through the metal detector.

 

The very first thing I do is get the ***le in my name, before I spend a cent and I have saved many a headache by doing this. If the ***le is already in your name just leave this sleeping dog rest, if it is not, get your sh*t together!

 

Would you also phone the cops and ask them to follow you around and make sure you're not breaking any traffic laws?

Considering that it's still the original truck, ***led and registered in your name, I'd say your fine. So what if it's modified. Does the law state at what degree of modification it stops being the original vehicle?

If that were the case, all those people with replacement engines are driving illegal vehicles because the numbers don't jive.

Mopars from the 70's had the VIN tag stuck on the dash pad, what if the dash cracks?

Shawn

 

Don't sweat it! The truck is registered in your name. You're the legal owner and you have the ***le listing you as such. You've obviously owned the truck for years and the DMV records will reflect that. The only way there will be an issue is if the law decides to check your VIN. The chances are slim and none! But, if that does happen, explain to them what you just explained to us. If someone at your local DMV gives you a hard time, go to another DMV that has a more amiable clerk. There's hundereds of DMV's in SoCal!